Hopper construction



Jl nly 26, 1 949. I. J. KUERT ET AL HOPPER CONSTRUCTION I Filed April 28, 1947 2 Sheets-sheet 1 JNVENTORSI,

.Ihzrr J7: Can/0 I. J- KUERT ET AL HOPPER CONSTRUCTION July 26, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1947 INVENTORS [kn -Jfl/Ar Patented July 26, 1949 HOPPER CONSTRUCTION Ira J. Kuert, San Gabriel, and BurnieM. Craig, Pasadena, Calif.; said Craig assignor to said Kuert Application April 28, 1947, Serial No. 744,355

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a hopper construction.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved hopped construction which is particularly adapted for use in conveying aggregate and other material to a concrete mixing apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a, novel rolling hopper construction including a novel track member.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a hopper construction including a novel rolling hopper and track and wherein novel means is provided for dumping the hopper and for limiting the movement thereof.

Other. objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mobile batch loader showing my improved hopper construction;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the hopper and associated parts;

Fig. 3 is a front end View, and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, showing the hopper mounted for side dumping.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, we have shown our invention as embodied in a hopper construction which is indicated generally at Ill. The hopper is shown as mounted on a mobile batch loader which is indicated at I I. The batch loader includes a supporting frame I2, a driving motor I3 and a steering member I4. The loader I I is described and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 744,354, filed April 28, 1947.

Upon the frame I2 we mount two pairs of spaced vertically extending support brackets I5 which are fastened to the frame I2. To these brackets we movably secure, as by bolts IS, a pair of upwardly directed U-shaped track supports I'I. Secured upon the top of the track supports I'I we show inverted T-shaped rails I8 which form a track along which Wheels I9, arranged on shafts 20, operate. The shafts 20 are secured on supports 2I mounted on the sides 22 of a hopper 23. The hopper includes downwardly converging bottom members 24 which are of a generally inverted isosceles triangle shape. The top of the hopper 23 has an angle member 25 extending along the sides thereof to provide a reinforcement. To prevent shifting of the hopper while loading and transporting, a plate 28 is secured to the hopper I and this receives a pin 21 which may be slid up and down by means of a handle member 28. The pin 21 is slidable through a bracket 29 secured upon the frame I2.

To effect a dumping operation of the hopper 23, we provide a pair of arms 35 and 38, integrally connected by a bar 36'. The arms are pivotally attached by a rod 36" to brackets 31 and 38, respectively. The brackets 31 and 38 are secured on the lower forward end of the hopper. The lower ends of the arms 35 and 36 are pivotally attached to the adjacent supports I5 by a rod 33.

In use the operator adjusts the pin 21 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the load of aggregate or other material is deposited into the hopper 23. The apparatus is then run to the desired location and then to effect the dumping operation the pin 21 is lifted by the handle 28 and the hopper is manually moved to the left in Fig. 1. As the hopper moves the arms 35 and 38 cause the hopper to gradually rotate to the dumping position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.

The hopper is mounted for rotation upon and translation along the rails I8 and the hopper shaft 20 is arranged substantially at the center of gravity of a loaded hopper so that practically no work is done as the hopper moves to dumping position. The rotation caused by the arms 35 and 36 is at first slow during the dumping operation, then the speed picks up and is very rapid as the hopper approaches full dumping position. 0n level ground the hopper edge will strike and thus jar out adhering particles.

In operation, as the device nears the dumping area, the operator may raise the handle member 28 to free the pin. 21 and thereupon the inertia of stopping can produce the dumping operation.

The construction provides a hopper with an extremely low top so that workmen may readily shovel material into the hopper.

The construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 provides for end dumping of the hopper but in some jobs it is essential that the dumping be at one side and when this is desired the arrangement shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is employed.

For side dumping the rod 39 is removed, the bolts I6 are removed and the supports I1 and rails I8 are also removed. A track support 48, secured to the frame I2, has a rail 4| on the upper end thereof. A companion rail member 42 is arranged on a support 43. The support 43 is held in place by bolts 44 which pass through the brackets I5. The rod 39 is then passed through holes 45 in the brackets I5 and thus the hopper 'ets, a rod extending through certain of saidhol'es' adj 'acent tothe-rea-rward pair of 'support branli- 23 is mounted for sidewise discharge as shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. A hopper construction including a supporting frame, a pair of front supportbrackets and 5 a pair of rear support brackets on said frame, I upwardly directedtracksupports on the support brackets, a; pair ofespaced track fiorminggirazilsiise j cured to the upper ends" of said" track supports, r

a hopper having ends and having downwardly, l0,

converging front and rear bottom members arranged between said rails, a pair of wheelsmttil said hopper ends and engaginggaid rails said] wheels being coaxially mounted: a{ pairofspaced arms, a tension bar connectifigsaid' spacedarms; each of the support brackets having a pair of holes therein, said pair of armsa-ilrei ngi dispo'sed; adjacent to the rearward pair of support. .brackg and pivotally engaging the arms to support the latter? and-means pivotally connecting the arm's to the rear bottommemberof the-liopperi 22-Ahoppe1 construction including a-{support ing frame, a pair of front supportibrackets and;i a pair of rearsupport hrar-aket's' on said frame, 25

, said support" brackets forming-'- a squareye; pair of upwardly directed U-shaped-" track' supports;-' I

means-to -remoyably-secure the tracksupports to thesupportbrackets;- a-pair ofspaced traek-form ing rails secured-to the upper ends-of said track-'- supports; a hopper-having endsand downwardlw converging front andrear 'lc'ottommembers and arranged=between said ra'il's a pair of wheels on said hopper-ends-and engaging said ra-ilsg sai'd wheels being coaxial-1y mounted, sa id rails-projeot ing: forwardly fromsaid -'frame; a pair et -spaced arm's, means connecting-said spacedi arms; eachofthe support brackets hav-ing' a pair of holes therein; the-holes being, arrangedat rig l'iti angles: I p w each 'other, said 'p air -o'farms beingd isposed 4o ets, pivot meansextendingthrough-certain ofit said-holes andf engaging the arms to support the latter; and meanspivotally connecting .tlieaarmsi. 1

. 0 3': A- hopper construetienainclu' mg a; supporieingjrame; a pa-ir ot front supportibtacltetsandt rails, said wheels being coaxially mounted, said rrailsi projieeting rearwardly from said frame, a painof spaced arms, bars connecting said spaced arms,.,each--ofthe support brackets having a pair 'ofholes'tlierein,;tlre holes being arranged at right angles to each other and being aligned, said pair lpfiarmstbein'grdisposed adjacent to the rearward pairofmsupport brackets, a rod extending through V certain of said holes andpivotally engaging the 20 arms to support the latter, the rear bottom portion or said hopper l'i'a-vin'g' spaced-brackets= on the lower face thereof vmeans pivotally connect;

ing thev armsto -said-1ast-mentioned braeket's,- and i a hopper supporting i bracket? onsaid frame re 'lea'sabl-e' mea-ns 'on said-{hopper support-bracket" normally supporting-said hopperto preventzmove-- ment thereof while loadi 7 e I v t I rK' RT ir.

' N enema E E GES' omen;

UNITED s'rA-rrms rn'rnnrs -iollowing. referencemara of; recordin; the? 

